Author Archives: JeffFuchs

About JeffFuchs

Having lived for a decade in Yunnan, Fuchs’ work has centred on indigenous mountain cultures, oral histories along with an obsessive interest in tea. Fuchs is the author of 'The Ancient Tea Horse Road' (Viking-Penguin) and he was the subject of 'The Tea Explorer' documentary based on his exploration of the Tea Horse Road. His photos and stories have appeared on three continents in publications such as Kyoto Journal, TRVL, and Outpost Magazine, as well as The Spanish Expedition Society, The Earth, Silkroad Foundation, The China Post Newspaper, The Toronto Star, The South China Morning Post, and UNESCO amongst others. Various pieces of his work are part of private collections in Europe, North America, and Asia. Fuchs served as Asian Editor at Large for five years at award-winning Outpost magazine. Jeff has worked with schools and universities, giving talks on both the importance of oral traditions, tea and mountain cultures. His recently released book ‘The Ancient Tea Horse Road’ (Penguin-Viking Publishers) details his 8-month groundbreaking journey traveling and chronicling one of the world’s great trade routes, The Tea Horse Road. Fuchs is the first westerner to have completed the entire route stretching almost six thousand kilometers through the Himalayas a dozen cultures. Fuchs partnered with Wild China to create a journey along the Tea Horse Road which National Geographic Traveler called one of the "50 Trips of a Lifetime". He is co-founder of Akahiao Nature Institute on the island of Hawai'i along with his wife, Julie Rogers.

Sacred Lakes Expedition – The Night-Before Departure

Picking up supplies today for the upcoming journey, I asked our resident elder Aniè – who will be leading the group – what I needed to pick up. His words were in very clear order: “Whisky, butter, tsampa, and pork … Continue reading

Posted in Explorations, Mountains | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Sacred Lakes Expedition – Led by a Memory

Preparations are in full mode here in Shangri-La to ascend to the sacred Tibetan high altitude ‘White&Black’ sister lakes, here in northwestern Yunnan. Known in ancient times as bodies of water where divinities resided, the lakes were consulted by locals … Continue reading

Posted in Explorations, Mountains | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Sacred Lakes Expedition – Led by a Memory

November – Tea Horse Road, Jalamteas Event in Toronto – November 7th, 10th

Posted in Explorations, Media, Mountains, Tea | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mupa, Nyima, and Songjè – (Cloud, Sun, and Songjè)

The word for mist, clouds, and fog in many Tibetan regions is the same: mupa. Mupa is what engulfs us and sucks us all into itself and into a world of soft focused hues and biting wind. Rain slices in … Continue reading

Posted in Explorations, Mountains | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Songjè and a Sacred Lake – Part l of ll

Bells chime through the wet air and the odd manic high-pitched wail of urging in Tibetan rips over the grassland. Plodding through the pine and spruce are the sagging, deflated bodies of mules lugging packs that dwarf them. Their day … Continue reading

Posted in Explorations, Mountains | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A Sacred Lake and the Horseman

 Upcoming post is based on a recently completed journey up a mountain in northwestern Yunnan with a brilliant group of students…and an icon of the mountains, local horseman Sangjè. Hands of steel, a voice that silences and the requisite face … Continue reading

Posted in Explorations, Mountains | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A Sacred Lake and the Horseman

Doctor ‘Mountain’ and the Temple – Part ll of ll

With the doctor behind me, but very much still in the mind, I head north towards this “little temple on a mountain”. His words about the ills of the mind resonate but my philosophy has always been, ‘as long as … Continue reading

Posted in Explorations, Mountains | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Doctor ‘Mountain’ and the Temple – Part l of ll

  Within a valley west of Shangri-La’s vaunted title and grasslands, over the Shika range of mountains, around 40 bends, heat rages even as autumn and winter start to claw their way into the geography. It is a region that … Continue reading

Posted in Explorations, Mountains | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Kora – Sustainable yak wool, high performance wear from the top of the world

Excited to see great friend, and trek-mate-for-all-seasons, Michael Kleinwort, finally release his ‘Kora‘ line of sustainable high-performance, yak wool clothing to the world. Excited too to be a part of it as a product tester on my various mountain wanderings.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Kora – Sustainable yak wool, high performance wear from the top of the world

“Yunnan Tea Road” Article in award winning TRVL

Arriving back to Zhongdian (aka Shangri-La) to wet, hints of snow in the surrounding mountains, and the usual fun and games getting up-to-date with the goings on in our old town.  Building goes on, buildings go up and the sound … Continue reading

Posted in Explorations, Media, Tea | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on “Yunnan Tea Road” Article in award winning TRVL